When two unlikely people meet…. A review for Working It by Christine D’Abo

Tell us about Working itWorking It is the first instalment in a new series called Ringside Romance and what a start it is. Christine D’abo is a new to me author and I was pleasantly surprised.

What is the story about?Nolan is getting back on his feet after a terrible car accident. He’s still not quite there, but he needs to get out. At a job interview he has a surprise encounter with Zack in the men’s room. Even more surprising to Nolan is that he gets the job. It turns out to be exactly what he needs, even with the issues he still has.

What is surprising to Zack is that he likes Nolan when Zack is not a people person. He gets the job done, but that doesn’t mean he has to be friendly about it. There are a series of events that brings Nolan out of his shell and back to life and leads Zack to discover a whole new side about himself.

What are your thoughts on Working it?I was surprised about how much I liked this story and how much I adored the characters. Nolan is an enjoyable character who is strong in getting back on his feet. He’s not a character who whines about his situation but is willing to take a risk.

Zack is a real asshole. Reading the story, you’ll understand why people don’t like him. At the same time his character was written in such a way that you sympathize with him. He grows on you and has some hidden qualities. Ask a certain spider wink

I liked how this story turns out. It’s not overly dramatic, though it has some angst. It’s also not overly sweet and has some funny scenes. The story is not just focussed on Nolan and Zack but has secondary characters who are not just fillers.

Why the four stars then? Well why I didn’t dislike the end part of the story, I couldn’t quite get on the band wagon how Nolan was nudged or rather blatantly pushed into a certain situation and how that worked out for Zack. It was a little too flimsy even if it worked out well for them. Considering how strong the rest of the story was, this was a cop-out.

How is the writing?The writing was good, strong, but not overly flowery or with an over use of imagery. The story was experienced, not told and there were no info dumps. I especially liked how Nolan’s accident was worked into the story.

Nolan Carmichael is getting a fresh start—new career, new company, new life. The only problem is, he liked his old life just fine . . . until an accident robbed him of his health, his job, his self-confidence, and his ability to go out in public without having anxiety attacks.

Zack Anderson has scared away his last four administrative assistants. So when he hires Nolan on a whim, he’s not too worried, since Nolan will be gone within the week anyway. Two weeks later, Nolan has made himself indispensable, completely reforming Zack’s schedule, life . . . and libido.

But in a company already torn by internal politics, one wrong step could ruin both their careers. And not only are they working to reopen Ringside Gym, Zack’s retreat when he was a troubled teen, but they also can’t help themselves falling for each other. If only the rest of their lives could go as smoothly as things do when they’re alone together.